— Ch. 1 · Tulsa Roots And Sacramento Streets —
Cornel West.
~6 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
Cornel Ronald West was born on the 2nd of June 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up in Sacramento, California, where his mother Irene Rayshell Bias worked as a teacher and principal. His father Clifton Louis West Jr. served as a general contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense. The family home stood near the Tulsa Metropolitan Baptist Church, which was led by his grandfather Clifton L. West Sr.
As a teenager walking the streets of Sacramento, West marched in civil rights demonstrations. He organized protests demanding Black studies courses at John F. Kennedy High School. He held the position of student body president during these years. In his youth, he admired the sincere Black militancy of Malcolm X. He also respected the defiant rage of the Black Panther Party. He studied the livid Black theology of James Cone.
After graduating from high school in 1970, West enrolled at Harvard College. He took classes taught by philosophers Robert Nozick and Stanley Cavell. He graduated magna cum laude in 1973 with a degree in Near Eastern languages and civilization. He credits Harvard with exposing him to a broader range of ideas. He was influenced by his professors and the Black Panther Party. Christianity prevented him from joining the BPP. Instead, he chose to work in local breakfast programs, prison programs, and church programs.
Harvard Disputes And Princeton Returns
In 2000, economist Lawrence Summers became president of Harvard University. Soon after taking office, Summers held a private meeting with West. Reports indicate Summers rebuked West for missing too many classes. He claimed West contributed to grade inflation. Summers said West neglected serious scholarship. He argued West spent too much time on financially profitable projects.
Summers reportedly suggested that West produce an academic book befitting his professorial position. His recent output had consisted primarily of co-written and edited volumes. Summers objected to West's production of a CD titled Sketches of My Culture. The album received critical panning. Summers also criticized West's political campaigning. He noted West spent three weeks promoting Bill Bradley's 2000 presidential campaign.
West contended he missed only one class during his time at Harvard. He stated this absence occurred to give a keynote address at a Harvard-sponsored conference on AIDS. Summers allegedly suggested that since West held the rank of Harvard University Professor, he should report directly to the president. They should meet regularly to discuss progress. Summers refused to comment on details except stating hope that West would remain at Harvard.
Soon after these events, West was hospitalized for prostate cancer. Summers failed to send get-well wishes until weeks after surgery. Newly installed Princeton president Shirley Tilghman contacted him frequently before and after treatment. In 2002, West left Harvard University to return to Princeton. He publicly called Summers the Ariel Sharon of higher education on NPR's The Tavis Smiley Show.